Anons discuss PC vs console gaming : greentext

[-] Hazzard@lemm.ee 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Man, I've been console for ages, but this January I bought a gaming PC and hooked it up as my dedicated console, and it's been amazing. If you like a bit of tinkering, PC can dominate as a console.

Playnite makes an amazing front end, stitching together everything my PC can do. Emulators, Steam, itch.io stuff, GoG and Epic and Xbox Game Pass, all seamlessly stitched together and 100% controller accessible.
Emulators are fantastic, my PC plays Switch, PS3, Wii, everything.
Real settings are a godsend, as is more powerful hardware. Actually play Elden Ring at a proper framerate. Play old games in true 4K/120.
Tinker like crazy. Mods, ReShade, actual in-game settings, GPU Driver settings, if it bugs you, you can do something about it. Currently messing with emulating Demon Souls with ReShade, some mods, and connecting to RPCN for online multiplayer, and it's a delight.
More powerful hardware too. Great to be able to push games past console, in whatever way you prefer. I'm already planning a GPU upgrade to be able to do more.
Heck, even sharing features. My GPU can save 5 minutes or more of instant replay clips, which I used to save all of my Elden Ring boss fights, just hitting a controller shortcut when I killed the boss. My PC shares those via FTP, so I can just grab those on my phone and upload them to YouTube. Faster than Xbox uploads, and actually my files, with no arbitrary storage cutoff like I hit on Xbox.

Basically the only thing I miss is Xbox's Quick Resume, or suspending a game on Switch. But a good PC fires up games fast, so it's really not a huge loss in the face of all the benefits.

[-] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 day ago

I made a tool for pausing every game (except online games, obviously). There are some free ones that do that, even on steam. If that's what you mean?

If pausing the whole pc á la standby is what you mean, then you could simply try hibernating (maybe after pausing like above). Most games actually can be resumed afterwards. Pc is totally off.

But yes, that's probably the only thing a switch (wifey has one, hence i know) can do great. Besides total portability...

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[-] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 139 points 2 days ago

PC: can do all of those things with a $9 cable from amazon, just plug it into your tv lol

[-] GetOffMyLan@programming.dev 51 points 2 days ago

Yeah literally. This is just a setup issue.

[-] Dasnap@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Or Sunshine/Moonlight if you wanna keep the PC in a different room.

[-] Eiri@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Used to do this. I had issues with either the audio or the video feed randomly dying, though, so I ended up finding a way to make HDMI+USB work when I moved.

More reliable, but now that I'm starting to think about reorganizing my office, copper will no longer do for 4K120 as that'll go over the 5-meter limit. And an optical high bandwidth HDMI+USB setup isn't cheap.

Upsides and downsides...

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[-] abfarid@startrek.website 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

While the post is clearly a shitpost, and the arguments in their provided form are not entirely valid, they could be altered to be valid.

Purpose-built devices will always have advantages over generic "do everything" devices. A modern smartphone can do everything, but you still have MP3/FLAC players, DSLR cameras, calculators, etc. Similarly, a PC can do everything, but there are still TV sticks, gaming consoles, tablets, etc.

PC can't be as low-friction as a console for gaming. To start playing all you need to do is pick up the controller, press the Home button, TV comes on and you're back where you left off. All the games in the store are 100% compatible with 0 settings manipulations.

Now, you could build a PC for the sole purpose of playing games on it, and come fairly close to the experience. But you're gonna spend more and put a lot of effort into it.
Some issues you might encounter:

picking and installing the right OS
hardware/software compatibility
controller support
seamless sleep/wake
lack of HDMI CEC protocol to control the TV

Whereas a console is a plug-and-play tailored experience that guarantees all of the above to not be an issue.

TL;DR: You can't just plug your PC to a TV and expect the same result as playing on a console. It will take much more work to get there.

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[-] ICastFist@programming.dev 47 points 2 days ago

I will die defending kb/m superiority over controllers, mostly because most strategy games are not made with controllers in mind at all. Also because I hate having to wait for a camera to pan around when I can do a ~~very inaccurate~~ 180º in a fraction of a second

[-] donuts@lemmy.world 41 points 2 days ago

You don't have to defend or attack any of them. Different use cases fit different devices.

Best example is GTA V. A lot of people using kb/m for the running and shooting, and the controller for driving and flying.

[-] MirthfulAlembic@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

Definitely agree. I used to be a KB/m only person, but have changed my opinion since using a controller for a while out of necessity. Some games are simply better with a controller.

Some are much worse. FPS will never translate well to controller for me. No idea how CoD people play on console. It feels like trying to throw a ball with someone else's hand by manipulating their elbow.

[-] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

The newer Doom games play well on a controller because precision movement matters more than precision aiming, so even on PC I play with a controller.

Having an analog stick instead of WSAD makes the movement much more fluid, and a double-barreled shotgun, rocket launcher, or chainsaw don't exactly require pixel-perfect aiming.

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[-] donuts@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Aim assist, generally speaking. That's how they try and make it "fair" for console users.

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[-] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Honestly, it really depends on the game and what control scheme it was designed for.

Controllers are absolutely dog crap at RTS, and anything else that is heavily GUI based. Controller mouse emulation is zero fun, and some games really need more shortcuts than controller buttons will allow. Highly competitive FPS games need fast mouse response as you observed, but there's plenty of other FPS titles that are good enough on controller (e.g. Halo).

At the same time, keyboard keys have a different response and feel than controller buttons. Fighting, platforming, and other games make excellent use of what controllers have to offer.

A good example of what I'm talking about is comparing Diablo 2 to Diablo 3. The latter is a dream to play with a controller, and the game mechanics have been streamlined pretty much for that. Meanwhile, Diablo 2 absolutely requires mouse and keyboard to be playable.

[-] Fosheze@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

You could definitely play diablo 2 with controller with the right maping. The person who first introduced my mom to diablo 2 was actually a paraplegic man she was a home care nurse for. He didn't have enough motion to use keyboard and mouse properly but he did have just enough finger control that he could play by holding the mouse upside down in his hand and rolling the ball of the mouse with his thumb. That's practically a joystick at that point. Apparently he was also pretty damn good.

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[-] Fizz@lemmy.nz 25 points 2 days ago

Gaming on a TV sucks and gaming with a controller sucks for majority of game genres. What's life without strategy games.

[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Gaming on a TV is amazing if you buy one designed for gaming. Get a good recliner. Keyboard in lap, mouse on armrest (or end table). You'll never want to go back to a desk ever again. Trust me, I've been computing this way for over a decade now. Fuck desks and shitty overpriced office chairs that give you back pain.

[-] Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Do you have a photo of this kind of setup? I'm very curious how it all looks like

[-] Cataphract@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 day ago

[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

LMAO you're not far off. For authenticity, I promise that I only partially staged this pic.

[-] Fizz@lemmy.nz 2 points 21 hours ago

Ok that looks fucking comfy. I am inspired to get a good recliner now.

[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

It really is. Great for gaming cause you can just crank the FoV to around 115-120° and have a fully-immersive experience. And say goodbye to having to lean forward to see the action.

I case you didn't see my other comment, Here are some different angles if you're interested.

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[-] BenFranklinsDick@lemmy.world 66 points 2 days ago

My brother got our PS3 confiscated for a year because he left bangbros open and forgot to turn the ps3 off, just the TV. Parents found out after we came home from church.

I'm STILL pissed. I was in a MAG clan and when I got it back the game was dead.

[-] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 2 days ago

MAG was truly a gem that never got the chance to shine. I wish some other developer would try doing something as mad as 256 player matches again.

[-] papalonian@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

I remember back around 2010 or so PlanetSide 2 was great for this. Battle maps the size of RPGs, distinct roles and objectives. You could be pushing down the road with the 12 other people you spawned next to, get into a fight with 15 of the other team's bad guys, next thing you know the focus of the entire battle has shifted to defend your position..

I only got to play a handful of times because none of my friends had a system that could run it, and by the time most entry level systems could, it had died.

[-] finestnothing@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

Battlebit remastered does 254 player matches (127 vs 127, not sure why they didn't do 128 vs 128 but it's close enough). It's not a very popular game anymore, it was super popular at launch (80k+ players) but is down to peaks of 2k per day. I stopped playing because I'm not a huge fan of fps games, but I got a couple hundred hours in it before the fps fatigue hit me. It died fast (pretty easy to get banned by bogus reports, lack of dev communication, lot of unneeded and unfun nerfs, etc) but was a lot of fun while it lasted.

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[-] LANIK2000@lemmy.world 39 points 2 days ago

Lol, that's my setup, but with an actual computer, not some dinky console. You wouldn't belive how comfortable coding on a TV with a good wireless keyboard is. And if I feel like laying back and watching something or gaming? HAHA! Already on the couch BABY! Man, it makes me feel old, but I have no shame. Also have a little lap table, so I can use a mouse for the odd occasion I'm playing something with an FPS camera.

[-] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 24 points 2 days ago

My condolences for your back

[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

My back is the very reason why I ditched desks and office chairs and replaced them with a comfortable recliner and a giant gaming TV. I have yet to find an office chair that didn't fuck up my back.

A recliner with a pillow behind it eliminates the pain. Not only is it more comfortable, you're also not leaning forward and to see the action on a tiny monitor anymore. You can just lean back and get your game on. Not having to be hunched over anymore works wonders for your back in of itself.

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[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago

As someone who regularly connects their laptop to their OLED TV, I just can't agree.

Ill watch movies, or youtube videos, or whatever... But word processing, or even web browsing on a TV? Fuck that... Kills my eyes.

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[-] chocosoldier@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 2 days ago

What side of this debate am I on if I have a dedicated gaming PC that stays plugged into the TV, that I interact with exclusively through a gamepad? Or my buddy who plays Xbox on a monitor at his desk? This isn't about PC or console, this is about couch vs desk.

[-] couch1potato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 days ago

puts couch in front of desk

Checkmate

[-] chocosoldier@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 days ago

done, now what?

[-] jcs@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago

Then you have the Steam Deck which can easily serve as both.

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago

I can even stream my PS5 to it if I want to watch TV and play Bloodborne.

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[-] MidsizedSedan@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

I understamd the simple joys of conaole gaming. Spending a day building a pc vs 3 cables on a console. But (in AUD) $1200 for the PS5 Pro vs $800 for a capable PC i built with my students???

[-] Nelots@lemm.ee 13 points 2 days ago

Not to mention you need to pay to use the internet that you're already paying for. Fuck Microsoft for starting that trend.

[-] uranibaba@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

Spending a day building a pc

That's the joy though

[-] Azzu@lemm.ee 11 points 2 days ago

How are you spending a day building a new PC though? :( I'm always done in 30mins - 1 hour max :(

[-] BoxOfFeet@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

For me, it's a several hour process. I enjoy the cable management, for one thing. I like to handle each component as carefully as if I'm assembling a nuclear bomb. Idk, it's a fun therapeutic process that I like to take my time with.

Well, except for the last one I built. Which is basically just crammed in however I could get stuff to fit. Had to bust out the angle grinder for the graphics card to make it in. Had to relocate the hard drive cage. Cable management is just enough so they aren't rubbing on any fans. I have rubber shims wedged under the Blu-ray drive to prevent rattling in the stupid tool free drive bay. It's a disaster in there. But it usually doesn't get over 70C in game, so I'm not going to mess with it.

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[-] Nurgus@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

Is a Steam Deck plugged into the TV and a set of bluetooth controllers a PC?

[-] slampisko@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yes, and it's glorious that you can do that (just like with a normal PC, just with less portability. People keep forgetting that couch play with a controller is totally a thing on PC too)

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[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 days ago

What console. Custom SFFPC hooked to the TV!

[-] MurderCapitalism@feddit.org 8 points 2 days ago

Just add porn to the gaming. Have fun. ;-)

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[-] sirico@feddit.uk 13 points 2 days ago

Bazzite ez

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